Entertainment
Game nights are a low-key, reliable way for the family to have fun together. Your elementary schooler will love playing these games with you, and the best board games for 8-year-olds keep them engaged while fostering age-appropriate developmental milestones. Plus, at this age your child can now play a lot of classic board games you already love.
Year eight means kids can focus on tasks for longer periods of time and are becoming noticeably and increasingly independent, which means they're ready for longer-lasting, slightly more complex games, and a bit of friendly competition. However, one of the games below involves no competition at all and instead focuses on storytelling.
All of my picks will help your elementary schooler practice specific skills like problem solving, storytelling, and mental math. I’ve called these skills out in each pick, but many of them involve some level of strategy to keep your kid (and even the whole family) entertained.
In terms of game play, most of my picks involve at least two players, but several can be played by the whole family and one can even be played solo, which is great for your child's increasing independence. With an 8-year-old’s longer attention span, they can now play games that take at least an hour, but my first two picks can be played in as little as 15 to 30 minutes.
Read on for the best board games for 8-year-olds; they're sure to keep your child engaged and many might even be games you've been wanting to revisit or try yourself.